{"id":99981,"date":"2026-04-07T12:40:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T02:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.signatureluxurytravel.com.au\/?p=99981"},"modified":"2026-04-10T15:44:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T05:44:20","slug":"borneo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.signatureluxurytravel.com.au\/borneo\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Borneo is the next ‘Big Five’ safari destination"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1773706459571{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]Elephants, clouded leopards, orangutans and slow lorises \u2013 Borneo is the next ‘Big Five’ safari destination you need to know about.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The \u2018Big 5\u2019 in Africa, polar bears in Canada, gorillas in Uganda, giant tortoises in the Galapagos, brown bears and moose in Alaska, penguins and whales in Antarctica \u2013 these are the wildlife hotspots that most frequently top the bucket lists of animal lovers and wildlife photographers around the world. But there\u2019s another place where intrepid travellers can journey in search of unique encounters, a place that\u2019s often flown over and sailed by, given little thought by the average tourist: Borneo.<\/p>\n

This rugged island in the Malay Archipelago is the third-largest island in the world, shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Here, white-sand beaches encircle dense and ancient rainforests that are home to pygmy elephants, clouded leopards, orangutans, sun bears and proboscis monkeys. This tropical destination is one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth, comparable to Serengeti National Park, Gal\u00e1pagos Islands and Antarctica. This world-class wildlife haven is rarely marketed to leisure travellers, instead frequented by serious wildlife photographers, filmmakers and conservationists \u2013 but that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t go. Many notable individuals have paid Borneo a visit, from Prince William and Princess Catherine to Queen Elizabeth II, Jane Goodall and Sir David Attenborough \u2013 all to witness the region\u2019s unique biodiversity.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1773706623914{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

How to get to Borneo\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The quickest way to get to Borneo is to depart from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Darwin and transit via Singapore Changi, Kuala Lumpur International Airport or Jakarta\u2019s Soekarno\u2013Hatta International Airport, then connect to a direct flight into Borneo, landing at Kota Kinabalu International Airport or Sandakan Airport in Sabah; Malaysia Miri Airport or Malaysia Kuching International Airport in Sarawak. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Seasonally, there is a more direct, faster route Australians can take. Royal Brunei Airlines operates direct flights from Melbourne to Bandar Seri Begawan in Borneo in around seven hours and 10 minutes. While this flight will get you onto the island of Borneo, you’ll land in the capital city of Brunei, with its mosques, museums, Ulu Temburong National Park and water village. But you will not have direct access to wildlife encounters or safari tours in Malaysian Borneo or Indonesian Borneo from here. For this, book another direct flight from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu or Kuching. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”100030″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1773711507600{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1773706669794{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Can you do a safari in Borneo?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Yes, you can do both land and water-based safaris in Borneo, including wildlife spotting in the jungle or river safaris. River safaris are recommended for spotting proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, hornbills, crocodiles and occasionally orangutans. Night walks in Danum Valley Conservation Area can bring visitors face-to-face with tarsiers, slow lorises and squirrels. At Gunung Mulu National Park \u2013 accessible only by boat \u2013 you can witness the exodus of bats out of Deer Cave at dusk. You can dive with sharks or meet turtles at Sipadan Island, see sun bears at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre near Sepilok, and last but certainly not least, visit the orangutan sanctuaries. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1773640360551{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

What is the Borneo ‘Big Five’?<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Orangutan<\/li>\n
  2. Bornean pygmy elephant<\/li>\n
  3. Proboscis monkey<\/li>\n
  4. Rhinoceros hornbill<\/li>\n
  5. Estuarine crocodile<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1773706969793{margin-bottom: 15px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

    Animals you can see in Borneo<\/h3>\n